President Biden reportedly can’t get enough of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
Biden is a devoted viewer of the left-leaning cable news talk show hosted by former US Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) and his wife, Mika Brzezinski, according to Axios.
The president frequently calls Scarborough, a Republican-turned-independent, to get his take on the issues of the day as well as to vent about media coverage about him.
Biden is also known to ask White House staffers whether they tuned in to “Morning Joe” to watch a particular segment about a news story or a poll, according to sources close to the situation.
Aides to Biden have started to watch “Morning Joe” on a regular basis in order to anticipate potential questions they might receive from their boss during the workday, Axios reported.
The president is also reported to have solicited the advice of regular “Morning Joe” panelists and commentators, including former Boston Globe writer Mike Barnicle, foreign policy expert Richard Haass and presidential historian Jon Meacham.
Meacham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of best-sellers on Thomas Jefferson, George H.W. Bush and Andrew Jackson, among others, has written speeches for Biden.
MSNBC said it would no longer pay Meacham to be a contributor after he failed to disclose that he wrote Biden’s acceptance speech after he won the election in 2020.
Meacham has still been allowed to appear on MSNBC as a commentator.
Biden’s reliance on MSNBC comes after Donald Trump was often criticized during his presidency for soliciting the advice of cable news personalities and media heavyweights from Fox News and other outlets.
Comcast-owned MSNBC’s lineup features several Biden-friendly hosts, including former spokeswomen Jen Psaki and Symone Sanders.
The Post has sought comment from the White House and MSNBC.
Biden is also reportedly a fan of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, the host of “Fareed Zakaria GPS” on Sunday mornings.
The Post has reached out to CNN seeking comment.
Vice President Kamala Harris has also reportedly been chummy with the “Morning Joe” stars.
Last month, Harris and her husband, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, hosted Scarborough and Brzezinski for dinner at the official vice president’s residence in Washington, DC, according to Axios.
Harris is also known to occasionally tune in to MSNBC rival Fox News and its afternoon talk show, “The Five.”
A former aide told Axios that Harris has not reacted well to Fox News’ coverage of her.
“It got in her head and caused high anxiety because they were constantly hammering her,” the former aide said.
Fox News and The Post share common ownership. The network did not respond to comment.
NEWS CREDIT
